Oklahoma Woman Sues Taco Bell Over Salmonella Outbreak

February 23, 2012

A 22-year-old Oklahoma woman who reportedly contracted salmonella after eating at Taco Bell has sued the fast-food company, seeking more than $75,000 in damages.

Leah Smith claims she became sick while attending a University of Oklahoma football game last fall, two days after she ate at a Taco Bell in Norman. She says she was sick for two weeks.

The Centers for Disease Control said last month that 68 people – including 16 people in Oklahoma – were infected with salmonella after eating at a “Mexican-style fast-food restaurant chain.”

Taco Bell didn’t immediately return a phone call or email seeking comment Tuesday. In a statement issued after the CDC report, Taco Bell said it was reviewing procedures with its suppliers and that it takes food quality and safety very seriously.